Dirty Dozen: Manziel’s midnight surge boosts Ags to top

For those who stayed up late to watch all of the game, the best team in Texas clearly was playing early Sunday.

Even with all of the defensive lapses against Louisiana Tech, Texas A&M deserves to surge into the top spot in this week’s “Dirty Dozen.”

1. Texas A&M (5-1, next week vs. LSU) — “Johnny Football” put on a show for those who were willing to stay up late to watch his big effort against Louisiana Tech. But next week against LSU will be a humongous step up in class for him and the Aggies.

2. Texas Tech (5-1, next week @ TCU) — After being embarrassed by Oklahoma last week, the Tech defense and Seth Doege had big comebacks in victory over West Virginia. It also kept Tech’s in the middle of the Big 12 title hunt.

3. TCU (5-1, next week vs. Texas Tech) — What a difference a week of practice made for Trevone Boykin, who blistered Baylor for four touchdown passes and produced a dominant ball-control offense. And it didn’t hurt to have an opportunistic defense which produced six turnovers.

4. Texas (4-2, next week vs. Baylor) — Mack Brown said Longhorns’ performance was “unacceptable” after complete rump-kicking at the hands of Oklahoma. And if Ash can’t play, this suddenly might become another season to forget for Longhorn Nation.

5. Baylor (3-2, next week @ Texas) — After yielding 1,316 yards and 119 points in their last two games, the Bears officially are having huge troubles defensively.

6. Houston (3-3, next week SMU) — Don’t look now, but after losing their first three games, the Cougars have won three straight to charge back into contention for CUSA’s West Division title. Their victory over UAB included eight sacks and a conference-record six field goals by Matt Hogan.

7. North Texas (2-4, next week vs. Louisiana-Lafayette) — Mean Green take the week off as they prepare for critical conference matchup against Louisiana-Lafayette, who currently are tied for first place.

8. Rice (2-5, next week @ Tulsa) — QB Taylor McHargue rebounded nicely from his injury to pace the Owls’ 301-yard rushing effort against UTSA. But it won’t get any easier when they visit the CUSA West Division leaders at Tulsa.

9. Texas State (3-3, next week idle) — The Fightin’ Frans claim their first WAC victory with an impressive triumph over Idaho highlighted by 337 rushing yards.

10. UTSA (5-1, next week vs. San Jose State) — To steal a line from Bill Parcells, maybe we were a little quick with the anointing oil for the Roadrunners. Remember, they are only 18 games into their football history.

11. SMU (2-4, next week @ Houston) — Not a good sign for the Mustangs when their defense can’t stop winless Tulane in the final seconds.

12. UTEP (1-6, next week vs. Tulane) — Loss on national television at Tulsa contained a couple of glimmers of hope. The Miners’ offense scored for the first time in 10 periods and Jordan Leslie grabbed passes for 218 yards.